Cambridge HSC flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Cellular respiration equation

C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP; aerobic respiration releases energy from glucose in mitochondria.

Photosynthesis inputs and outputs

Light energy drives 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2 in chloroplasts; carbon dioxide is reduced and water is oxidised.

Newton's second law

Net force equals mass times acceleration (F = ma); acceleration is in the same direction as the net force and inversely proportional to mass.

pH definition

pH = −log10[H+]; values below 7 are acidic, 7 is neutral at 25°C, and values above 7 are basic.

Natural selection conditions

Heritable variation, differential reproductive success and selection pressure cause allele frequencies to change across generations in a population.

Passé composé formation

French past tense formed with avoir or être in the present plus past participle; être verbs usually agree with the subject.

Si clause future

In French, si + present tense expresses a real future condition and the main clause uses the future simple, not the future in the si clause.

English thesis statement

A concise claim that answers the question and previews the line of argument; it should be debatable and supported by textual evidence.

Code-switching

Alternating between two or more languages or dialects within a conversation or utterance, often signalling identity, audience or context.

Quadratic formula

x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) / (2a) gives roots of ax² + bx + c = 0 when a ≠ 0.

Discriminant

For ax² + bx + c, Δ = b² − 4ac; Δ > 0 gives two real roots, Δ = 0 one repeated root, Δ < 0 no real roots.

Sine rule

In any triangle, a/sin A = b/sin B = c/sin C; use it when given two angles and a side or two sides and a non-included angle.

Derivative power rule

If y = x^n then dy/dx = n x^(n−1) for real n; constants differentiate to zero and sums differentiate term by term.

Probability addition rule

P(A ∪ B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A ∩ B); subtract the intersection so outcomes in both events are not counted twice.

Accounting equation

Assets = Liabilities + Equity; every transaction keeps the equation balanced under double-entry accounting records.

Break-even point

Units needed to cover total costs: fixed costs ÷ (selling price per unit − variable cost per unit).

GDP expenditure formula

GDP = C + I + G + (X − M), where C is consumption, I investment, G government spending, X exports and M imports.

Price elasticity of demand

Percentage change in quantity demanded divided by percentage change in price; absolute values above 1 are elastic, below 1 inelastic.

Primary source

Evidence created at the time of an event by a participant or eyewitness, such as letters, photographs or official records.

OPVL analysis

Evaluating a source by origin, purpose, value and limitation; this tests reliability and usefulness for a specific historical question.

Separation of powers

Division of government into legislature, executive and judiciary so that power is not concentrated in one body.

Demographic transition model

Model of population change through stages from high birth and death rates to low rates, with rapid growth during the transition.

Socialisation

Process by which individuals learn norms, values and roles of their society through family, peers, education and media.

Algorithm

Finite ordered set of unambiguous steps that solves a problem or performs a task; can be represented by pseudocode or flowcharts.

Boolean operators

AND returns true only if both inputs are true; OR returns true if at least one is true; NOT inverts the input.

Primary key

Field or combination of fields that uniquely identifies each record in a database table and cannot contain null values.

Hierarchy of control

Risk-control ranking: eliminate, substitute, engineer, administrative controls and PPE, with elimination most effective and PPE least effective.

Elements of art

Line, shape, form, value, texture, colour and space; these visual components are organised using design principles.

Complementary colours

Colours opposite each other on the colour wheel, such as red and green; they create strong contrast when placed together.

Major scale pattern

Tone–tone–semitone–tone–tone–tone–semitone; this interval pattern produces the major scale from any starting note, with the tonic repeated an octave higher.

Given circumstances

Stanislavski term for the character's environment, relationships, history and situation, used by actors to justify action and emotion.

Sonata form

Classical structure with exposition, development and recapitulation; themes are introduced, transformed and then restated in the tonic key.